Short Course Description
The end of the Iron Age (Iron IIB-C) is characterized by the rise of imperial forces ? the Assyrian and Babylonian empires ? who gradually took over the Levant, eliminated the territorial kingdoms, and established direct imperial rule that change the Levantine socio-political structure forever. It was in this period the kingdoms of Israel and Judah reached their zenith in every aspect (territorially, economically, and culturally) before they were destroyed by the empires. In this class, you will be introduced to the archaeological characteristics of this troubled period, in light of contemporaneous historical sources. We will discuss the history of the southern Levant under the empires and will try to understand how imperial rule might be reflected in archaeological finds.
Full Syllabus
